MONC misuse: DA Bills to stabilise coalitions to be revived

30 July 2024

The recent motion of no confidence (MONC) against Mayor Cilliers Brink highlights the urgent need for the re-introduction of the DA’s coalition stability bills. The attempt by the ANC to oust Mayor Brink was once again a clear example of how such motions can be misused by political parties seeking to disrupt effective governance.

Despite significant improvements in financial controls and the cleaning up of corrupt practices in Tshwane’s waste management, the ANC targeted the Mayor to obstruct progress. To address this misuse, the DA is reviving three key bills: the Constitution Nineteenth Amendment Bill, the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, and the Local Government: Municipal Structures Second Amendment Bill.

These bills aim to stabilise coalition governments by restricting the frequency and conditions under which motions of no confidence can be filed. By setting stricter criteria and limiting these motions to one per office holder per year, with exceptions for serious violations, we can ensure more stable and effective local government.

The DA will continue to lobby various political parties in and outside of Parliament to support these legislative changes we seek to bring. South Africans are looking to their elected representatives for solutions to the coalition government's instability and service delivery throttling.

Parliament must be proactive in creating a legislative framework that would ensure governance stability and reliable service delivery. The DA will bring these pieces of legislation to the floor of Parliament so that we stabilise current and future coalition governments.

Issued by Baxolile Nodada, Deputy Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, 30 July 2024